Beneath the Wraps

 Didn't turn out what I had expected.  Still not through.  But closer - I suppose. Spent the majority of yesterday bringing items from the shed and back room to find a new home the back room is still in disarray - even moreso than the counters pictured above.

  I saw the date and realized I have a friend who has a birthday today.   It has been a very long time since I called her my friend.   I don’t know why we fell out of touch. Nor do I know why I feel compelled to create this post. Happy Birthday, Janeen – Hope you are doing well. the chocolate here won't kill you

                 When I had my brick phone my son Tony added an app that he thought would be beneficial.  I started getting all kinds of text messages about things that I really didn’t care about and asked Jaime if she could remove it.  Eventually all the unwanted messages stopped also.  I don’t want apps on my phone!  I want my phone to be a phone.  Yes, being able to receive text messages and taking pictures are nice bonuses but really not necessary.  I don’t need the website.  I don’t need apps to clog up my system.             Richard and I had gone to Staples.   An overly enthusiastic employee attempted to give me tips on how to save money if I install their app onto my phone.   I whipped out my flip phone and showed it to him.   When Richard joined us I excused myself to use the restroom.   Apparently he talked Richard into putting the app on his p...

                I didn’t realize that darning socks is still practiced – and evidently has been upgraded to being performed on the sewing machine. Really?  When I have a hole in my sock, I will just by a new pair.  Forget the darning thing.  I have seen it performed and am certain I could figure it out, but it seems more work than it’s worth.           I wear cheap socks – not a lot of fabric or weight.   I don’t really care for the expensive ones or handmade or bulky socks.   Richard had purchased a couple of pair for me and Jaime.   I admire the thought – and although the socks are cute seem impractical to my feet.     The sage are mine and the black are Jai's For one thing there are multiple threads which always manage to catch on my toenails.   They hug my leg too tightly for another.   I have many pair that do that. I prefer my legs to breathe. ...

            In the Church of Jesus Christ there is a meeting in which members of the congregation are encouraged to make their way to the stand to bear their testimonies.   This meeting takes place once a month – usually the first Sunday of each month.   General Conference also falls on the first Sunday of the month and so testimony meeting gets moved to either the last week of the month prior or to the second week (depending on the ward or stake).   In the South Umpqua ward we have held testimony meeting the week prior – except this year. On March 26 we had stake conference – which is a geographical boundary made of up several wards April 1 and 2 was General Conference (which is when the meetings are broadcast world wide) April 9 Easter program Thus our testimony meeting was not until the 16 th of this month.            I recall sitting through a many of sacrament meetings as a you...

         We have had cats in our yard.  They come and go.   Before Jai went to college she would name the cats:  “ Ghost ” , “ Blanco ” , “ Midnight ” , “ Venom ” . . .  all which have vanished over the years.   Currently there have been two tabbies –   one yellow and one black and tan.   Ally calls the black one “ Pudding ” .   Her friend, Molly, who lives next door has  claimed the cat as hers and calls the cat “ Muffin ” .   The cat does not live at either house and yet  both girls have claimed the cat as her own.          It ’ s not a farel cat exactly.  Rumor has it that she/he belonged to a family  who recently moved but failed  to take the cat with them.    I don ’ t think said family really did  abandon him/her.   I think the cat is  well taken care of at different houses  and tends to han...

             Our son Randy is a safety inspector who makes more money than he knows what to do with.   Recently, Richard has started taking classes in order to become a safety inspector also and has been putting in applications for jobs.   One company texted on Easter Sunday to say they had availability and would like to interview him using the internet.   Okay, I get it.   After 2020 many have relied more upon technology for interviews using zoom or facetime or whatever.   Monitoring a lengthy questionnaire does not qualify as an interview in my opinion.           I was bothered that the “interview” was to take place on Easter day.   After all, he had just received the text message. Usually one will set up an appointment and not just willy-nilly create a spontaneous message through text. We had gone down to Ashland again as Jaime had left her wallet in the car and figured she...

  All the flooring that we had put in had done less than two years ago has been to be replaced.   Once again – are you kidding me?   Just fix the kitchen not the entire flippin’ house.   But no.   Thus were we down to no useable kitchen but had three days possible that the five of us might have to share a toilet.   Oh, no.   That didn’t sit well. Initially the insurance company was going to issue a 28,000 dollar allowance to pay for temporary housing and food that would supposedly last four months.   Four months?   Are you kidding me?   The water damage wasn’t only the floor but ALL of our kitchen cabinets would have to be replaced as well.   What a nightmare. The insurance company talked Richard into staying in the house rather than use the money on temporary housing (which we had looked into and had come up with pricing) for the five of us (wait a minute – did I say that I had no intentions of sharing a bathroom?   Why coul...

 Welcome to our 2023 nightmare kitchen    our front room in January kitchen we had used the table for maybe six weeks just to have it all full again.   no counter room front room after the demolition they brought in a laundry sink which we are still using BTW front room Jan/Feb

 Doesn’t appear that I have posted anything about the refrigerator or our disastrous issue STILL at hand. I had created a post about our situation – though not the fridge specifically.   It was posted on February 16, 2023.   I had it up for a day before I took it down.   The title had given away the name of our insurance company as well as their logo smashing a house.   But as they still hadn’t paid anything, I took it down temporarily.  We have since collected a partial payment which is better than nothing but still not enough and we do plan on changing insurance companies (Richard thought he would save money by bundling, but I was happy with our former company and hope that they will take us back because I really am not impressed with the one that we are with currently) and also have a problem with the contractor – but that is another post of itself. So let me now take you on the beginning of our “living conditions” journey: We had purchased a brand n...

  I understand the need for plans – especially when others are involved – but overall I am a spontaneous gal.   I don ’ t like to plan.   Plans don ’ t always go accordingly.   If things are done spontaneously, there is less disappointment on my end. Scenarios:   planning Jaime ’ s birthday party around the unpredictable weather – or in the case of her “ sweet sixteenth ” the pandemic . . . Activities and events have to be planned out and announced ahead of time to get a good turnout – one would hope.   My jeopardy game ( here ) was cancelled three years in a row before it finally came to pass  You book your tickets in advance so that you have a guarantee.   You choose September believing it will be cooler.   Who knew there ’ d be a heatwave and fires that late in the year?   But you aren ’ t able to get a refund.   So now what?   There is no plan B.   According to Google An assertive person is more calm, ...

  I think in many cases the “personality” quizzes are geared towards job/career and not so much “personal” life.   But I seldom ever take a quiz with a job in mind, let alone a career.   Why not just make a career out of uplifting others?   Even if it means one doesn’t get paid.   Money isn’t everything.   Nor does it necessarily equal success.   Not in my book anyway. There have been many times I have passed up opportunities or advance in promotion when I know that someone else can benefit.  I think putting another’s happiness before my own can make me equally as happy if not more than if I allowed myself to take the reigns.  One example that comes to mind is when a friend and I had joined a bowling team.  One of the members was a single guy who seemed to be interested in both of us, and I knew she liked him.  I could have gone out with him but thought she might do better in his company.  They were marrie...

  Next is 81 observant.   That seems to fit the Introvert portrait as far as I can tell.  I may be intuitive to a small degree but overall I am not.  I have become aware that not one size will fit all and what works best for one situation may not even apply to another.   I think this post provides some good insight as to the difference between observant and judgment  I do enjoy going to art museums for a short time.  I enjoy some works while others do not appeal to me.  I do n’t enjoy discussing “what this piece means” or “abstract and balance and all whatever else there is”.  I like art for the eye appeal not because of one’s (artist included) interpretation.  Just let me enjoy with my eyes. However I do find myself wondering about why certain lyrics were written or what meaning a song has for the author.   Usually I will like a song based upon the music before I even know what the words are. I don't know why I am willing to exp...

           I have posted only two of six thoughts on the personality quiz that I took.  Thus I have four to go but will wait before posting the next as today is Jai ’ s birthday.  We had her spring break.  It was good to have her home.  We played a few games with one another.  Sadly not with the entire family as our house is in disarray and has been for the entire year due to water damage and contractor delays (which really is another post within itself) and thus lack of room.  Jaime had actually had to resort to sleeping in a bed rather than on the floor which she seems to prefer. No floor space in the room that started out as the office but houses Ally ’ s possessions.   Jaime will need her own room come summer and it doesn ’ t appear that the others will be leaving anytime soon. Jaime spent her last weekend with some friends at a lake house near Reedsport.   She did not return until after three.   Richard ...

       Popularity was never important to me, but I wasn't thrilled about being bullied.  I guess I did okay as an outcast and perhaps that is what shaped me from lacking the desire to be social. A strong lean toward being introverted came as no surprise to me.  I have always preferred being alone or in really small groups.  I have never really been one to strike up conversations  –  especially with the unknown though my role in the RS presidency has pushed me out of my comfort zone.  I find that I do enjoy greeting people and getting to know them  –  like the speed friendship activities.  I don ’ t enjoy large groups.  I don ’ t initiate activities.  I avoid leadership roles – though I have become more comfortable with taking charge . . . well, maybe not.  For instance, if I am asked to teach I make myself a conductor and ask questions that I pray will lead in a direction other than myself....